O Come Ye Back to Ireland

This is All Creatures Great and Small but with Irish small town flavor and humor. I hated to finish the book but just purchased their next book. You’ll love the writing and the stories. Ready to buy a plane ticket…one way!

I was so sorry when the book ended… I wished it would go on and on. Our family comes from the west of Ireland and the scenes and words of this book seem so real and ring so true. What a lovely bit of simple escapism, “don’t you know”.

Christine and Niall, who is Irish born, are two young 1980's New York professionals that are off to Ireland for a years adventure. The book is created by sharing and melding the contents of each person's diary of first year thoughts about their adventure.They leave the creature comforts of Manhattan for a rural cottage in remote County Clare, Republic of Ireland. The cottage belonged to Christine's grandfather. The cottages walls do no challenge the wind as it mostly filters through as it wishes. The cottage interior and exterior require a good bit of work to brave the Irish elements of persistent rain and the ever present wind. The cottage garden presents another opportunity to learn about the Irish weather.Christine And Niall expend great efforts to learn about local customs, neighbors, and what is required to fit in and survive in a new "world" and very different environment. Upon arrival the local phone exchange still has a operator; a phone installation takes months; a bed delivery, once it arrives in Ireland, is a few months away; satellite/cable T.V. Is non existent; grocery stores, the Chemist (drug store), hospital, doctor, etc., are miles away.The couple share with us the creation and development of a new Irish life from how to grow potatoes and vegetables, cutting "turf" for a year long fire, raising chickens, and cattle (three cows and calfs). Niall attends and graduates from a two month "farmers" course.They explain and detail the human side of Irish life from funerals to the ethos of neighbor helping neighbor. Christine sells a few paintings, they revive the local drama society and receive a few awards.All of the above is written about in a concise and descriptive style that keeps the story moving in an informative and interesting journey that makes you want to cheer for their hard work and success. Well done!

Spending a year with transported New Yorkers in their struggles and triumphes isa delight. They write and paint to live their dream. A compelling memoir!

I first read this book in the early 1990s and was captivated by Niall’s and Christine’s courage and then the reality of making a life for themselves in County Clare in 1985.Re-reading it in 2022, I can only imagine the changes that have come to them, and to Clare in the almost 40 years since that 1st summer of rain on their farm.The beauty of the land, the caring of their neighbors, and their fierce determination to prevail is still as rich and tender as when I met them through their words so long ago. Thank you.

This is love, passion, creativity and determination rolled into one amazing experience. Care to join in the adventure? They’ve got way more of all four components than I have. :-)

Not much to add to the other reviews other than to say it was a real pleasure to read this. It was very real and not corny or schmaltzy as it could have been. Real people doing real things in a very new environment for them. When you talk to people about Ireland (and my family comes from Clare) they rarely mention the harsh winters. The authors make it very real and also capture how the residents make the best of it and become good neighbors. Really a nice find

Such a gritty, real experience in moving to Ireland. I have read some similar books but I do so love the heart and soul of this story. I found myself wishing we had done this when we were younger. I sure love ireland. I have always felt it was home. This is a wonderful share by the authors.

I'm familiar with Niall Williams and have read most of his work so it was a delight to discover this book, written with his wife, telling of an Ireland of 30 years a go. It is the time when I first 'discovered' Ireland so brought back very happy memories.

Love his books. I have read them all he's an Irish 'Dillon Thomas' beautifully written lyrical and quite captivating. He makes me proud to have my roots in Clare! Can't recommend highly enough!

Wer das erste Mal nach Clare, Tipperary, Ennis, Galway oder Lisdoonvarna reist, der sollte vorher dieses Buch lesen, das von der jüngsten Vergangenheit erzählt, von den Jahren, als die Europäische Union noch jung war. Dann kann er sich ganz in Ruhe überlegen, ob sich ein Vergleich zu heute lohnt und ob er über seine Reise schreiben solle. Denn, wer Irland liebt, vor allem auf den ersten Blick, kann mit diesem wunderbar geschriebenen, kleinen Buch anfangen, dessen Vergangenheit kennen zu lernen. Er fängt an, Vergangenheit als etwas zu begreifen, das nicht tausend Jahre her sein muß. Das wunderbar geschriebene und sogar sehr gut übersetzte Buch erzählt vom Beginnen "reiner Toren" in einem harten und trotzdem schönen Leben in einem fremden Land, das sie zur Heimat machen. Wer Irland liebt, wird die Aufforderungen finden: Komm wieder! Lies noch mehr!

Ein lebendiger und unterhaltsamer Bericht über das Ankommen und Fußfassen als New Yorker im Farmer-Leben an der irischen Westküste in den Achtzigern. Auch wenn sich Irland sicherlich sehr verändert hat seitdem, erfährt man immr noch viel, was auch heute noch gilt.